Simpson University vs Pepperdine

Simpson University and Pepperdine University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to prospective students. Simpson University, nestled in the heart of Redding, California, is a private Christian university known for its strong liberal arts foundation and commitment to community engagement. Pepperdine University, located in the vibrant city of Malibu, California, is a private research university renowned for its exceptional academic programs, particularly in the fields of business, law, and education. While both universities share a dedication to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover the nuances that set these two universities apart and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Pepperdine University logo

Pepperdine University

Simpson University logo

Simpson University

Overview

Location Malibu, California Redding, California
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 93.0% 57.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Churches of Christ Evangelical

Admission

Acceptance rate 52.7% 66.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1260 - 1440 N/A
ACT range 25 - 30 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 19.0%
Students submitting ACT score 3.0%
Total number of applicants 11,855 953
Total number of admissions given out 6,249 638
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,024 134
Yield rate 16.4% 21.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $80,152 $58,121
Average net price $40,945 $25,311
Tuition $59,450 $34,400
Room & board $16,700
Room/dormitory: $6,300

Meal plan: $5,600
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

96.0%
Average amount $36,967
99.0%
Average amount $23,390
Students receiving federal student loan 38.0%
Average amount $5,171
41.0%
Average amount $5,439
Students taking out private loans 9.0%
Average amount $12,899
8.0%
Average amount $17,383

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,708
Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
806
Men 42.8% Women 57.2%
Graduate students 6,738
Men 30.2% Women 69.8%
187
Men 37.4% Women 62.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 46.9% N/A
International students 8.3% 1.6%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 2,579 544
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Texas Washington Colorado Arizona N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Legal Profession
  • Education
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Psychology
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 83.0% 44.8%
Dropout rate 16.6% 19.4%
Transferred out N/A 35.8%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,699
  • Year 2: $92,733
  • Year 3: $106,087
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,518
  • Year 2: $74,576
  • Year 3: $93,293
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,829
  • Year 2: $96,691
  • Year 3: $91,701
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,898
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $90,146
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,350
  • Year 2: $62,508
  • Year 3: $75,589
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,825
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $71,546
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,559
  • Year 2: $57,770
  • Year 3: $70,082
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,228
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $65,821
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,799
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $58,854
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,780
  • Year 2: $46,156
  • Year 3: $56,663
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,112
  • Year 2: $84,161
  • Year 3: $87,775
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,227
  • Year 2: $50,270
  • Year 3: $48,770
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,108
  • Year 2: $36,042
  • Year 3: $38,386
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,289
  • Year 2: $40,281
  • Year 3: $38,233
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $17,753
  • Year 2: $24,421
  • Year 3: $31,400
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,149
  • Year 2: $31,765
  • Year 3: $31,011
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $19,227
  • Year 3: $19,275
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: N/A
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $56,415
  • Year 3: N/A
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $44,971
  • Year 3: N/A

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